‘Tush Push’: Can Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott Match Eagles’ ‘Brotherly Shove’?

‘Tush Push’: Can Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott Match Eagles’ ‘Brotherly Shove’?

The Dallas Cowboys needed a statement game from quarterback Dak Prescott. They got one.

Dallas went into SoFi Stadium and defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 20-17, on Monday Night Football. Prescott was remarkably efficient (particularly when not targeting receiver Michael Gallup), completing 21-of-30 attempts for 272 yards and a score. On the ground, he added another 40 yards and six points.

Notably, though, those points didn’t come on Dallas’ fifth drive of the game. With just over two minutes to play in the first half, the Cowboys found themselves in the red zone. On fourth-and-1, they were faced with the decision to go for it or kick the field goal.

Prescott breaks away on a zone-read rush attempt / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Prescott and company opted to run the NFL’s new favorite short-yardage play, the tush push. For those unaware, and certainly not living near Philadelphia, the play is similar to a quarterback sneak, except players alight behind the quarterback and attempt to push him past the line to gain.

In the spirit of Dallas’ red zone struggles and both teams’ propensity for prime-time theatrics, Prescott was stuffed short of the first down. …

Dak and Hurts

Which leads to a question: If QB Jalen Hurts can win Eagles games with their “Brotherly Shove,” why can’t Dak & Dallas become proficient at it?

Prescott was able to laugh about the failed conversion after the win.

“They didn’t push my tush enough,” he said.

Owner Jerry Jones got in on the conversation, too, admitting that, like everyone else, he was stunned to see it fail.

“I’m all for it. I like the play,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “I think Dak is an excellent sneaker. I was just surprised we were stopped. I completely agreed that was the play to run.”

It was a lot easier to forgive the flop once Dallas managed to get the ball back and kick a field goal before halftime. By the night’s end, it was a distant memory, falling in line behind a flurry of Prescott highlights and clutch defensive stops.

The Cowboys needed a win, and they got one. They may not run the tush push as effectively as the Philadelphia Eagles - yet?! - but Monday was an important step in keeping the NFC East leaders within reach.